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REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY 🎵

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Kpop Academy memories!

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Sports in KPOP and the Hallyu Wave!

INTRODUCTION

Like many countries in the world, health and fitness is something that is ranked as highly important in Korea. It’s introduced to students at a very young age with a huge variety of sports clubs at school lasting longer than some people’s work day with extra practice on weekends! Many people throughout life and beyond education are also dedicating themselves to sports, exercise and eating a balanced diet showcased in the countless fitness Instagrams, fitness websites and Korean fitness video programmes that are available on the internet. The importance of sport in Korea is also highlighted in it’s popular culture, with almost all Kdramas (at least the ones that I have watched) including some form of sports being played from basket ball to judo to yoga, even if it is not the main focal point of the show!

From Cunning Single Lady (yumyumyumyumyumyum ^3^”)

Since attending the KPOP academy I began to wonder how sports were represented through the hallyu wave; through KPOP and its idols. Since KPOP idols are people of which many people look up to, I began to research into their involvement in sport and how they are promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports.

IDOL STAR ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

One of the first things I found when researching KPOP’s link to sports was the Idol Star Athletics Championships. This is a television program which is held once a year on MBC and started in 2010. The program mostly includes KPOP idols and singers who are put into groups marked by different colours and then compete against each other in a variety of multi-sport events such as athletics, swimming and sports such as Archery, Football, Ssireum and Rythmic Gymnastics. As the years have passed it has become increasingly popular with 300 participants competing in 2015 compared to 130 in its first run (no pun intended >_<!). After watching, most of the idols take it very seriously and are actually very athletic! Personally I think its a great idea for MBC to host this, especially to help younger audiences become more interested in sports during a time where technology is seemingly consuming our active lives! 

MBC Entertainment have made a playlist of highlights that you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fl53C9EQHY0&list=PLtqYizcPqxZS_1igsiPrZ-LIIcKqmQxyH 

KPOP STARS THAT USED TO BE ATHLETES

As my research continued into how KPOP and sports are linked in Korea I found a few very interesting articles that revealed how some KPOP Idols actually used to be athletes; taking their chosen sport very seriously through high school and beyond. It is no wonder that many KPOP Idols would excel in sports, particularly due to the highly active dance lifestyle they lead. I do wonder if the athletic past has helped them with this? 

Uee has, on many occassion, proven her abilities in swimming; participating in ISAC competitions as well as showcasing her athleticism in her drama “Hogu’s Love”.

Jackson has also shocked the globe with the fact that he is the winner of the Asian Junior and Cadet Fencing Championships which happened in 2011. It was only after he excelled in this athletic career that he decided to then pursue dance and music. It would be awesome to see his skills in a fencing drama one day!

Chorong suprisingly pursued Hapkido before she debuted in Apink. She was involved in the International Youth Martial Arts Cultural Exchange in 2008 and was inspired by her father who was a Hapkido instructor. 

Leo was probably the idol that impressed me the most. After researching further I found that he actually played four entire years of national level soccer!!!! How can anyone be this talented ;w;

SPORTY CONCEPTS

It’s no surprise that the Korean entertainment industry has capitalized on sport as a concept for countless KPOP groups and artists as not only does it showcase their talents *cough* and bodies *cough*  it is surely a great way to promote sport as a ‘cool and healthy’ thing to pursue. Whilst this isn’t such a popular concept in the UK, the video below shows just how frequently sports are used in KPOP music videos as a concept.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHPlVF6xzmc 

Before I close this section I wanted to also point out that some idols even learn a ‘sport’ to impress their fans! For example, it is known by many that Afterschool used to learn a new skills for each of their comebacks with their most recent (although way too long ago now D:) being pole dancing!

IDOLS SHOWCASING SPORTS IN KDRAMA AND REALITY SHOWS

In this last section I researched even deeper into how KPOP idols have promoted sports in Korea and found some amazing gems along the way!

Many KPOP idols have not only trained in a sport for a particular drama but have also been involved in sport related variety shows. For example Choi Minho from Shinee (MY ULTIMATE MALE BIAS OMG I’M IN LOVE) actually trained with coach Kim Tae-young, former national high jump athlete and a member of the Korea Association of Athletics Federations, for a month and a half to perfect his high jump for his role of Kang Tae-joon in “To the Beautiful You”. I really recommend watching this drama!!! It involved a lot of SM idols, especially in the making of the OST, but it is an amazing adaptation of “Hana Kimi” and Minho honestly looks like  A GOD ;w;. His current record is 175cm...amazing right?!

Krystal has also become well known for her dedication to figure skating in “Kiss & Cry”! Her performances are so breathtaking that you could almost at times mistake her for a young professional! She has even managed to impress the queen Kim Yuna herself!

Watch her performances here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mr5B6vfFqis 

This concludes my little adventure into how KPOP involves and links itself to sports in Korea. This is just the tip of the iceberg, but even just a small article such as this shows just how high Korea holds sports in regards to importance especially in its frequent involvement in the hallyu wave and popular culture.

Thank you for reading! Until next time KPOP lovers ~ <3 ^-^

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LEARN HANGUL HOMEWORK!

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ymPuLDxNy6LedzYCZG-TczyNtGOQb6FAQY38Tqvc_Tg/edit?usp=sharing

KPOP STYLE!!

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KPOP Homework !

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8f9omj_KnX7YW1CWXBoOFJCY0U/view?usp=sharing

I did a poster to highlight the differences in Eastern traditional clothing :D

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This week we had the opportunity to west Hanbok!!! It was one of the coolest moment of my life as sad as it sounds I have always wanted to wear traditional Hanbok :3

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REVIEW OF SECOND LESSON <3 3-4 COMING SOON!

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Today we learned about the Korean Language and created some calligraphy !! 💕✍🏻

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I made a video to promote the K-Music Festival that is happening soon! I had so much fun creating this. It really did relight my passion to video edit again. Thank you K-POP Academy! <3~

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This was the second piece of homework I attempted this week!! Enjoy reading <3

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저는 지금 숙제를 해요! 🤓📚✍🏻